Valve mechanism



C. E.. SAYRE.

` VALVE AIVICHANISNI.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, |920.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

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i 2o s s 07 26 @Y 1 29 a e Witness Iloz/emr C. E. SAYRE.

y VALVE MECHANISM.

APUCATION FILED FEB. 21, 1920. 1,389,104. Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

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WITNESS IrwEN-ro UNITED srmssg CHARLES ESHEL SAYRE, OF PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA..

VALVE MncHANIsM.

Application led February 21, 1920.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, CHARLns EsHEL SAYRE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the countyofAlleglieny and State of Pennsylvania, have 1nvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Valve Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

This inventionrelates to valve mechanisms, more particularly to valveoperating mechanism vadapted for use infconnection with lifeboats, andthe objects of the invention are to provide a device ofthe characterstated, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, which provides for a saferefuge boat for members of the crew or thepassengers of a damaged orsinking vessel, and which embodies automatically operable elementspermitting submerging and capsizing ofthe life Jboat without imperilingthe lives of those abroad, thereby minimizing the loss of lifeconcomitant to accidents of this nature.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of thecharacter'described, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, which issimple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable andefficient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture'. l f

Tov the accomplishment of these and such other objects'as mayhereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction,combination and arrangeme-nt of parts herein specifically described andillustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown embodimentsofthe invention, `but it is to be understood that the device shown ismerely illustrative and that various changes in the form, proportionand'minor'details of construction may be resortedv to, without departingfrom the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of theinvention, which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing forming a portion of this specificationl and wherein likenumerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views:

Figure 1 is a sectional end view of the valve chamber having mountedtherein an automatic air supply valve mechanism in accordance with theinvention. l s Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view thereof, withthe chambershown in section.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug'. 30, 1921.

Serial No. 360,471.

Figs. 3 and 4 are end views of the operating lever and theactuating'lug, respectively, with a portion of the former broken away'.

Figs. 5 and 6 are top plan views of modified forms of constructions ofthe operating' lever and associated parts.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the device illustrating itsapplication to a life boat.

Referring in detail to the drawing, A in! dicates the hull of a lifeboat provided with tom portion 8 and with the deck 1. Fixed to the lowerinteriorportion of the valve chamber r5*, are a plurality of cylindricalguide-ways 11, having open ends, Yand each carried by a pair of brackets12 and 13.

As illustrated Vin Fig.' 7, of the drawings, two complete units of valvemechanisms are shown. AThe two units are positioned longi` tudinallyagainst the respective inner side walls of the casing 4, and separatedfrom each other by the vertical partition B. The

two units being identical in construction and operation, but one of theunits will be described.

The lower edge of the housing 3 and of the casing 4 is spaced from thedeck 1 to permit of the passage of the water thereunder.

Formed in the top 6, of the valve chamber 5, is the'longitudinallyextending air supply inlet 14, establishing communication between thevalve chamber 5 and the interior of the casing 4. An elongated valve 15,adapted to seat against the valve seat 16 within the valve chamber 5, ispivotally supported at each end, as at 17, by a valve lever 18. Thelatter, near the central portion thereof, is fixedly mounted, as at 19,to the longitudinally extending shaft 20, which is rotatably mounted inthe bearing brackets 21 within the valve chamber 5. A counter-weight 22is adj ustably carried on the rearwardly projecting end of each of thevalve levers 18 in suoli manner as to permit the valve 15 carried on theinner ends of the valve levers 18 to slightly overbalance thecounter-weights 22, and to cause the valve 15 to remain normally in theopen position.

hiounted for vertical movement in each of the guideways 11 is a float23, made from cork or other suitable material of equivalent buoyancy,provided with a vertically disposed connecting rod 24, which latter ispivotally connected at its upper end, as at 25, to the inner end of theoperating lever 26. The other end of the operating lever 26 is formedwith the arms 27 and 2S, forming a yoke portion through which the lever26 is loosely mounted on the shaft 20. Mounted intermediate of the arms27 and 28 of the yoke portion on the shaft 20, is an adjustableactuating lug 29 adapted to beiixedly secured to the shaft 2O to turntherewith, by means of a set screw 30.

When the floats 23 move vertically upward on being submerged they willoperate in unison to close the valve 15 as soon as the yoke portions 31of the levers 26 engage respective actuating lugs 29 and rock the shaft20.

Should the life boat, in connection with which the valve mechanism isadapted to be used, turn over completely in the water, the valvemechanism would be upside down, but the water would enter the valvechamber 5 and act directly against the valve 15 and close same bypressure, without the use of the floats 23. Under such ccnditionsthefloats 23 would not act against such closure of the valve 15, as theoperating levers 26, which are actuatedby said floats 23, are looselymounted on the shaft 20 and operate to rock the latter only when movedvertically toward said valve 15, in the manner hereinbefore described.It will be noted that the operation of the valve 15 is such, when in thereversed position, as to eliminate the entire weight of the iioats 23and associated mechanisms, which would other wise tend to retard andburden the closing operation of the valve 15 by the pressure of thewater thereagainst. 1n like manner if but several of the floats 23 aresubmerged they will operate to close the valve 15 independent of thosefloats which are not submerged, and such operation will not be impededby the inaction of the floatsv not submerged. The guide-ways 11 areprovided with lugs 32 to limit the downward movement of the floats 23therein.

The modications'in Figs. 5 and G show different constructions` ofoperating levers and associated rocker members for rocking the shaft 20.In Fig. 5 the lever 33 is loosely mounted on the shaft 20 and isprovided with a hub 34 having a slot 35, through which a bolt 36 isfixed in the shaft 20. 1n F ig. 6 the operating lever 37 is likewiseloosely mounted on the shaft 20 and is provided with a hub 38 positionedon said shaft intermediate the arms of a substantially U-shaped rockingmember 39 fixed to the shaft 20. The operation of the modified forms ofconstruction is identical to that described in connection with thepreferred form.

WY hat I claim is:

1. A valve mechanism for the purpose set forth comprising thecombination with means to provide an inlet and a valvular member forclosing said inlet, of a rock shaft, a valve lever connecting saidmember with the shaft, a shaft rocking element fiXed to the shaft, and afloat operated operating lever loosely attached to the shaft and adaptedwhen actuated to engage said element thereby rocking the shaft andshifting the valvular member to close the inlet.

2. A valve mechanism for the purpose set forth comprising thecombination with means to provide an inlet and a valvular member forclosing said inlet, of a rock shaft, a counter-balanced valve leverconnecting said member with the shaft, a shaft rocking element fixed tothe shaft, and a float operated operating lever loosely attached to theshaft and adapted when actuated to engage said element thereby rockingthe shaft and shifting the valvular member to close the inlet.

3. A valve mechanism for the purpose set forth comprising a valve, afloat, a shaft, connections between the valve and shaft to shift thevalve when the shaft is rocked, and means operated from the float forrocking the shaft,said means enabling the shifting of thevalveindependent of the rocking of the shaft by the said means.

4. A valve mechanism for the purpose Set forth comprising thecombination with means to provide an inlet and a valvular member forclosing said inlet, of a rock shaft, a valve lever having a yoke-shapedend connecting said member with the shaft, a shaft rocking element fixedto the shaft, and afloat operated operating lever loosely attached tothe shaft and adapted when actuated to engage said element therebyrocking the sha-ft and shifting the valvular member to close the inlet.

5. In combination, a valve chamber provided with an inlet and floatguide-ways, a float operating in each of said guide-ways, a valve forclosing y.said inlet, means for limiting the movement of the floats ineither direction, a rock shaft within said chamber, an actuating elementfor the shaft, valve levers connecting the valve with the shaft, andmeans connected with the floats and loosely attached to the shaft forengaging said element to shift the shaft to close the valve when thefloats are raised.

6. In combination, a valve chamber provided with an inlet and floatguide-Ways, a float operating in each of said guide-Ways, a valve forclosing said inlet, means for limiting the movement of the floats ineither direction, a shaft Within said chamber, an actuating element forthe shaft, and means connected with the floats and loosely attached tothe yshaft for yengaging said element to I"shift the shaft to close thevalve when the floats are raised, said valve levers extending from saidchamber and each havin@ a countervveight.

I. A valve mechanism for the purpose set forth comprising a valve, ashaft, valve levers for shifting the valve, and means operativelyengaging with the shaft to rock the same to close the valve, theconnection between said means and shaft permitting of the valve beingclosed independent of the rocking of the shaft by said means.

8. In combination, a valve chamber provided With an inlet and floatguide-Ways, a float operating in each of said guide-Ways, a valve forclosing said inlet, a shaft Within said chamber, actuating elements onsaid shaft, means connecting said floats and loosely attached to saidshaft for engaging said elements to shift the shaft to close said valve,each of said floats operating independently of the others and capable ofshifting said shaft to close said valve.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES ESHEL SAYRE.

